A group of more than 50 people walked through the rain Sunday in Willoughby to help raise money to fight hunger locally and worldwide.

The annual CROP walk brings together people from different churches in the community as a way to help raise money -- 25 percent of which stays locally, while 75 percent is distributed to worldwide hunger relief efforts.

CROP Hunger Walks are community events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by local congregations.

CROP used to be an acronym for the Christian Rural Overseas Program when it began after World War II to help feed people in Europe and Asia. Officials kept the name CROP as the program broadened.

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This year, a local event took place at Willoughby United Methodist Church.

The Rev. Don Perks conducted a short liturgy service before the crowd headed out to walk through the downtown Willoughby area.

People in attendance were shown a short video of worldwide hunger relief efforts involving women who work to ensure their families have clean water.

"The women of the world that want to change their lives, they want to change their community to make life better," Perks said. "Isn't that what everybody wants? They want life to be better not only for themselves, but for their community and world."

Perks also led an audience participation segment and prayers during the liturgy.

The pastor told the audience how he had thoughts of staying home because of the rain, but didn't want to pass up an opportunity to help others.

"I thought about staying home, but I had this thought: 'Some women walk for three hours a day to get water, and I'm going to complain about a little rain?' " Perks said. "One reason why we believe in the CROP walk is because it brings communities of faith together."

At each of three stops, participants read passages from the Bible, meditated and prayed.

Wickliffe resident Joe Roeland has done the CROP walk 10 times as a way to help raise money to help others.

"I know 25 percent stays in the community," he said.

The Rev. David Thielo of Christ Lutheran Church in Willoughby has participated in the CROP walk for 23 years.

"It's one way for the churches to come together and raise some money and awareness of hunger concerns in our area," Thielo said. "I think it's one way for us to be a community and do something together."

Pat Norris, one of the event's organizers Sunday, said the preliminary estimate money raised was at least $4,200.